10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know to Take Prompt Action

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Because brain tissue can be damaged quickly, recognizing the warning signs and getting emergency help fast can make a major difference.

Stroke symptoms often appear suddenly. They may be mild or severe, and in some cases they can disappear after a few minutes. Even if symptoms go away, they may represent a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, which still requires urgent medical evaluation.

Here are 10 warning signs everyone should know.

1. Sudden Weakness or Numbness on One Side

One of the most common stroke warning signs is sudden weakness, numbness, or paralysis affecting one side of the body.

This may involve:

• the face
• one arm
• one leg
• or several areas on the same

side

A person may suddenly struggle to lift one arm or feel that one side of the body is unusually heavy.